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Associated PressDecember 30, 2016

Florida Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry has reached his final day in office. Perry is stepping down Friday because he reached the mandatory retirement age for justices. Perry was appointed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist to the court in 2009. He was the fourth black justice appointed to the court. During his tenure, he was […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2016

With the Florida Supreme Court‘s opinion releases on winter break till Jan. 12, several high-profile cases will remain unresolved in 2016. Here are a few, starting with the court’s official case summary: — Debaun v. State of Florida: “This case asks whether laws governing sexually transmissible diseases apply only when the parties involved are a man and […]

Joe HendersonDecember 28, 2016

Politicians have long been outraged – OUTRAGED, I tell you – about so-called “activist judges” who make them follow that pesky thing known as the law. I guess it’s logical, therefore, for frustrated lawmakers to try and beat judges at their own game. FloridaPolitics.com reported that State Rep. Julio Gonzalez, a Republican from Venice, filed […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 27, 2016

Lawmakers could override court decisions they don’t like under bills filed Tuesday. State Rep. Julio Gonzalez, a Venice Republican, filed two pieces of legislation, one aimed at state judges and another at federal judges who interpret state laws. The first measure (HJR 121) would allow the Legislature to review judicial rulings that declare legislative acts void. If approved […]

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2016

The state’s leading death penalty opposition group is calling for more than 200 Florida death row inmates to have their sentences reduced to life imprisonment. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) says a Florida Supreme Court decision on convicted killer Mark Asay out Thursday means that many are “entitled to be resentenced.” The court […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2016

Mark Asay will remain on the state’s death row, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday, likely to become the “first white person executed for the murder of a black person in this state.” Its 80-page opinion also determined that this year’s U.S. Supreme Court opinion, Hurst v. Florida, requiring Florida juries—not judges—”to (determine) the facts necessary to sentence a defendant […]

Jim RosicaDecember 16, 2016

Conservative appellate judge C. Alan Lawson will become the next Florida Supreme Court justice, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday morning. Lawson, who will replace retiring Justice James E.C. Perry, is chief judge of the state’s 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach. Perry’s retirement is effective Dec. 30; Lawson’s first day is the 31st. “He’s got a 20-year track […]

Bob SparksDecember 6, 2016

Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox lives in the City of Tallahassee. While that should not come as man-bites-dog news, it’s not that simple in Florida’s capital. The residency of the former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Democratic Party Chair was challenged in court by Dr. Erwin Jackson, a frequent city government and Maddox critic. Maddox maintains two […]

Phil AmmannDecember 6, 2016

In a pair of Context Florida columns titled, “The Shame of Florida,” Darryl Paulson has documented how Florida infamously leads the nation in the number of people—1.7-million—who are permanently barred from voting as ex-felons regardless of whether they are good citizens now. In Florida, as in Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee and other former Confederate states, these […]

Jim RosicaDecember 5, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Monday “commanded” a Broward judge to come to Tallahassee Feb. 7 for a public reprimand. Circuit Judge John Patrick Contini also must write a letter of apology, undergo judicial mentoring, complete a mental health program, and pay administrative costs, according to a court order. He was brought up on judicial misconduct charges last year. […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court
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Closing statement: Florida Supreme Court justice steps down

High-profile Supreme Court cases still hanging fire at year’s end

Joe Henderson: Separation of powers there to keep legislators from running amok

Legislation would allow lawmakers to override judges’ rulings

After Asay decision, anti-death penalty advocates call for commutations

In Mark Asay case, court says death penalty ruling isn’t retroactive

Rick Scott picks C. Alan Lawson for Supreme Court

Tallahassee residency case becomes statewide issue

Martin Dyckman: End the ‘shame’ by restoring voting rights to ex-felons

Broward judge to be publicly reprimanded Feb. 7